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'Inexact' Chips Save Power By Fudging the Math

Posted by Soulskill on from the for-sufficiently-large-values-of-1 dept.

Barence writes "Computer scientists have unveiled a computer chip that turns traditional thinking about mathematical accuracy on its head by fudging calculations. The concept works by allowing processing components — such as hardware for adding and multiplying numbers — to make a few mistakes, which means they are not working as hard, and so use less power and get through tasks more quickly. The Rice University researchers say prototypes are 15 times more efficient and could be used in some applications without having a negative effect."

6 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. Prediction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    37 posts about the Pentium division bug.

    1. Re:Prediction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      You just deprived someone of their +5 Funny, you bastard.

    2. Re:Prediction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      36.9999995796 posts about the Pentium division bug.

      Fixed that for you.

    3. Re:Prediction by Chrisq · · Score: 5, Funny

      You just deprived someone of their +5 Funny, you bastard.

      My computer makes it a +4.7 funny.

  2. Target Market by SJHillman · · Score: 5, Funny

    These chips will, of course, be aimed at government markets.

  3. First Post! by MyLongNickName · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is first post according to my new power-efficient computer!

    --
    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year